Suction cleaner



Nov. 23, 1937. D. e. SMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 23, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l IMW 1x Cam Donald 6: Sine ATTORNIEY Ngv. 23, 1937. D. G. SMELLIE 2,100,089

' SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 23, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Donald 6. Jmellie MnyJW ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 23, 1937 PATENT OFFICE SUCTION CLEANER Donald G. 'Smellie, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application May 23, 1935, Serial No. 22,941

' Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to new and novel improvements in suction cleaner agitating devices. More specifically the invention comprises an improved air-driven vibrator, and agitator .positioned in the dusting tool nozzle of a suction cleaning unit. I

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaning unit.

new and improved nozzle in a suction cleaning unit. Still another object is the provision of a new and improved dusting. tool nozzle for a suction cleaning unit. A further object is the provision, in a suction cleaning unit, of a dusting tool nozzle connected to suction-creating means and provided with surface-agitating means which arepositively actuated by an 'air driven unbalanced rotary air motor. Still another object is the pro 2o vision, in a suction cleaner nozzle, of a surface agitating element which is connected to an unbalanced rotary air motor which is resiliently I mounted relative to the nozzle. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading. the following specification and claims and upon proper to which is attached a dusting tool unit; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the dusting tool nozzle and the hose attached thereto;

Figure3 isla front elevation of the dusting tool nozzle with'certain portions of the front wall broken away showing the surface covering agitator positioned therein;

Figure 4 is avertical longitudinal section upon the line 44 of Figure 3; 1 l Figure 5 is an exploded view of the stators and rotors of the unbalanced air turbine, the outer bodiment of the invention;

Figure '6 is a front elevation of a second preferred embodiment of the dusting tool nozzle with v certain portions of the front nozzle wall broken away; 4

Figure 7 is a section upon the line 1-1 of Figure 6. v

Referring again to the drawings, and to Figure 1 in particular, a modern' suction cleaner is shown provided with a dusting tool unit. The

It is another object of the invention'to provide a stator being of the type used in the second em--v suction cleaner proper comprises a nozzle I, a fan chamber 2,-an exhaust outlet 3, and a motor casing 4. A suction-creating fan 5 is positioned within the fan chamber 2 and is driven by a suitable unshown motor positioned within the casingv 5. At the exhaust outlet 3 a removable dust bag 6 is attached which functions to filter from the air exhausted thereinto the suspended foreign matter. The cleaner is movably supported by front and rear wheels I and 8, and a pivoted handle 9 provides means by which the machine can be propelled. The incoming power leads I0 enter the handle and pass downwardly therethrough into the motor casing and into contact with the unshown driving motor.

As illustrated in Figure 'l the machine is x'connected for oft-the-fioor cleaning. That is, a converter member II is connected to' the fan chamber 2 so that air is drawn therefrom into the fan chamber instead of from the nozzle I into the fan chamber. To the converter member II is secured an elongated dusting tool hose I2, the cleaner end of-which seats within the outer end of the converter and is removably secured thereto by a manually operable spring-pressed detent I3. At the outer end of the hose I2 a dusting tool nozzle I4 is positioned which encloses the end of the hose, being removably secured thereto by means of a second spring-presseddetent I 5. Referring now to Figures 2 to 4, inclusive, in particular, the specific construction of the dusting tool nozzle I4 is illustrated in its first embodiment. Dusting toolnozzle I4, in common with the usual dusting tool nozzle, comprises a conduit portion I6 which connects to the'dusting tool hose I2, and a mouth portion H which is flared, or extended transversely of the conduit' portion I6, and has its open end defined by spaced nozzle lips I8 and I9. I

In the operation of the cleaner with the dusting tool unit cleaning air will'be drawn through the dusting tool nozzle I4, entering through the nozzle portion I'I between-the lips I8 and 'I9,"and will travel through the conduit portion I6 into the hose I2 in which it will travel to the converter I I and into the cleaner proper under the suction created by the fan 5. As' distinguished from the usual dusting tool nozzle, however, nozzle I4 is yond the outer convex surface of plate 2| and functions to hold in place thereagainst a rotatable a plurality of openings 29 near its peripheryat its opposite end.

Within the turbine casing are positioned spaced stators 30 and 3 I. Each stator comprises an outer circumferential rim which is diametrically spaced from an inner body portion by inclined guide vanes or blades 32 which are adapted to direct air passing through the stators. The central body portion of stator 30, in this embodiment, is solid and is provided with'a seat 33. A substantial yet flexible coil wire spring 34 extends from theinner end of the pin construction 24, which is shaped to seat and hold a spring at its inner end as seen in Figure 4 into the seat 33 to be removably secured therein by the clamping screws 35, 35

which extend at an angle to the seat 33. 'The" spring 34 is of sufiicient strength to support the turbine construction opposite the opening 20, as illustrated in Figure 4. The second stator 3| is also provided with vanes 32 which are adapted to guide the air which passes therethrough. Its

central body portion comprises a ring 36 which seats the outer race of a ball bearing 31.

Upon opposite sides of the stator 32 with their central portion seated within the ball bearing 31, are positioned unbalanced rotors 38 and 89 which are provided. at their periphery adjacent the.

stator vanes 32, 32 etc. with vanes or blades 48, 49 etc. which slope in the opposite direction to the slope of 'the vanes of the stators. A sector 44 in each rotor, illustrated in Figures 4 and 5,- pro-' vides an unbalanced mass which unbalances the entire rotor. The central portions of the two rotors are inter-fitting and are fixedly secured together and to the inner raceof bearing 3l..by-

an axially extending nut and bolt construction 4|.

The forward open end of the air turbine body 28 is sealed to the nozzle opening 20 by a flexible air seal 42 so that the air which enters the nozzle through the opening 20 must traverse the air turbine and pass throughthe rear openings 29,29 etc. to enter the nozzle proper.

On the underside of the body 2| of the air turbine is secured an elongated rigid beating elemerit 43 which extends substantially the length of the nozzle mouth portion |'I between the lips l8 and I9. In this position it is adapted to contact and agitate any surface with which thenozzle comes into contact.

v In the operation of this embodiment of the invention the creation of a reduced pressure within the fan chamber 2 by the rotation of the suctioncreating fan 5 effects a reduction of pressure in the dusting tool unit. Air is'drawn into the nozzle l6 entering through the primary .openingor nozzle mouth I! and also through the secondary or auxiliary opening 20. The air which enters through the nozzle mouth proper performs the usual cleaning function with the nozzle lips in contact with an object undergoing cleaning. The air which enters through the opening 20 first passes through ports 26-and 21 of'the valve plate 25 and closure plate 2|. It then passes through 32 of stator 3| and is directed against the vanes of the rotor 39 to impart an'additional rotational force tothatmember. The air then leaves the air turbine unit thru the casing openings 29, 29

and enters the conduit l6 ofthe nozzle joining the main air'stream from the nozzle.

The rotation of the turbine rotors 38 and 39 with their unbalanced sectors 44, 44 results in.,a vibration of the entire airturbineassembly. This vibration is permitted 'by the flexible spring mounting 34 of the unit which is designed to accommodate it. The flexible seal'42 which coni v .nects the unit to the auxiliary opening 20 also ,pffers no appreciable opposition to the turbine vibration. The turbine movement is transmitted directly. to the beater element 43, and this element, when in contact with a covering undergoing cleaning, vibrates that covering to dislodge therefrom all embedded foreign matter. Such dislodged matter is removed by the air stream thru the nozzle mouth in theusual manner. 7

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and '7 in particular, a second preferred embodiment of this invention is disclosed. As illustrated in Figure 7,

thevibrator is supported at its rear end instead of at its forward end as inthe first embodiment. To accommodate this variation the turbine casing 28 is formed with a. seat .45 in its rear face which accommodates an outwardly extending bolt member 48 exteriorly shaped to conform to the inner convolutions ofa supporting coil spring 41. j The opposite end of coil spring extends into a seat 48 formed integrally in the underside of the nozzle l6 where it is fixedly held-by a removable screw 49.- The forward end of turbine-casing 28 is sealed, as in the first embodiment; to the opening 20 of the nozzle by the flexible seal 42.

Opening'Zll is again closed, as in the first embodiment, by theclosure plate 2| which, however, is without the recessed seat 28 of the first embodimentand carriesupon its surface the relatively rotatable valve'25. In the present instance,

however, valve 25 is positioned interiorly of plate 2| instead of exteriorly-thereof, the valve plate extending at' its upper end through a slot 2|a' in the plate in order that the operator may change its position to aline or move fromalinement the openings in the valve and in the plate.

Within the air turbine casing 28 are positioned the stators 30 and 3| with their guide vanes 32, 32. In the present embodiment the stator 3ll.is without the central spring-seating construction which characterized it in the first embodiment, the spring being seated, as previously described,

in the rear face of the turbine casing. Stator 3| again seats the bearing 31 which rotatably supports the unbalanced rotors 38 and 39 which, as in the first embodiment, are interconnected and rotate together.

According to the second embodiment of the invention the agitator 43, an elongated thin rigid beater element, is connected to the turbine casing 28 by a flexible fiat spring 50 lying in a vertical plane. The turbine end of the spring is secured by a vertical screw 5|. Agitator 43 is additionally supported by L-shaped leafsprings 52, 32 which at their opposite ends to'the side walls of nozzle l4. Springs 52, 52 oppose'and eliminate any tendconnectto the central part of the agitator and ency of the agitator 43 to move transversely of the nozzle but freely permit of its vertical movement.

In the .operation of this last embodiment of the invention the rotation of the turbine rotors, as in the first embodiment, causes every point therein to move in a continuous path in a substantially vertical plane. This movement is imparted to the turbine end of power-transmitting spring 50. As agitator-supporting springs 52, 52 prevent transverse agitator movement the horizontal components of turbine movement are absorbed in the flexible spring Ell. Spring 50 is relatively rigid in a vertical direction, however, and the vertical components of turbine movement are transmitted directly to the agitator which accordingly vibrates only in a vertical direction.

In both embodiments of the invention if the operator desires to use air exclusively to perform the cleaning the agitator can be rendered inoperative by manually rotating the plate Valve 25 to a position such that the openings in the valve and in the closure plate 2| are out of alinement. No air is drawn through the air turbine into the nozzle, and the agitator is unactuated.

I claim:

1. In a cleaner nozzle having a mouth, a second inlet into said nozzle, an unbalanced air turbine connected in series with said inlet and exhausting at a point spaced from said mouth, said turbine including an open-ended casing, means sealing said casing to said inlet, stationary guide vanes for air passing thru said turbine, rotors having blades to be contacted and rotated by the air directed thereagainst by said stationary guide vanes and an unbalanced mass to cause vibration upon rotation, means movably supporting .said turbine in said nozzle and an agitator element connected to said turbine and extended into said nozzle mouth.

2. In a cleaner nozzle having a mouth, a second inlet into said nozzle, an unbalanced air turbine connected in series with said inlet, and exhausting at a point spaced from said mouth, said turbine including an open-ended casing, means sealing said casing to said inlet, stationary guide vanes for air passing thru said turbine, rotors having blades to be contacted and rotated by the air directed thereagainst by said stationary guide vanes and an unbalanced mass to cause vibration upon rotation, a resilient spring mounting said turbine in said nozzle, and an agitator element connected to said turbine and extended into said nozzle mouth.

8. In a cleaner nozzle having a mouth, a second inlet into said nozzle, an unbalanced air turbine connected in series with said inlet, and exhausting at a point spaced from said mouth, said turbine including an open-ended casing, means sealing said casing to said inlet, stationary guide vanes for air passing thru said turbine, rotors having blades to be contacted and rotated by the air directed thereagainst by said stationary guide vanes and an unbalanced mass to cause vibration upon rotation, a spiral coil spring extended parallel to the axis of turbine rotation mounting said turbine in said nozzle for vibration, and an agitator element connected to said. turbine and extended into said nozzle mouth.

4. In a cleaner nozzle, an air turbine exposed to atmospheric pressure on one of its sides and 

